- Removed the ability for employees to request reimbursement for local mileage or transportation costs, except in the following situations:
- Individuals traveling to a system campus that is not their home campus (Twin Cities is defined as East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul)
- Individuals traveling to an offsite location because their job duties require them to do so
- When an employee is in travel status (overnight)
- Added language stating parking at an employee’s primary campus location is not an allowable expense
- Created a new appendix for business expenses related to remote work
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Business Expense policy updated
The University updated the Business Expense policy effective October 11, 2021. This update is considered a major revision to the existing policy, with key changes including:
Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Upheaval, ambiguity, and change
We all passed! High five!
However, it wasn’t always easy. It was often stressful and everything going on in the world affected everyone differently.
So, what lessons can we carry with us? Expecting the unexpected is easier said than done. Our fear of the unknown is natural and can assist us in survival. It’s something to be aware of and managed, but not eliminated. Autonomy and being able to control our environments help to ease our anxieties. So, if fear of the unknown protects us from danger, why is it that when you Google “how to deal with ambiguity” there is so much information on how to eliminate and reduce it? The answer is that to achieve a goal or acquire a new or better outcome, we often need to do something differently. Doing something differently -- adapting -- is often about survival.
Preparing for, reducing, and managing ambiguity is the responsibility of both leadership and individuals. After the initial shock and awe of a sudden change, we need to take certain steps to help us adapt. It’s also useful to remember that even desired changes can be stressful, have their downsides, and need continuous reassessment.
In the past year and a half, we have watched and learned about how we respond to and deal with uncertainty and transition and can carry those lessons with us. Regardless of what we do to cope with upheaval, ambiguity ,and change or what advice we find most useful, the first thing to acknowledge is that our mind and bodies’ initial reaction is normal but can and should be managed. Fear of change and change itself are both about survival.
“When I am willing to step into the realm of uncertainty and ambiguity, I open myself up to infinite possibilities.” - Anita MoorjaniIn March of 2020, we had a crash course in change and ambiguity. We quickly changed from working in the office to working from our homes and dealt with the ambiguity of when the pandemic would end and what things would be like after the pandemic.
We all passed! High five!
However, it wasn’t always easy. It was often stressful and everything going on in the world affected everyone differently.
So, what lessons can we carry with us? Expecting the unexpected is easier said than done. Our fear of the unknown is natural and can assist us in survival. It’s something to be aware of and managed, but not eliminated. Autonomy and being able to control our environments help to ease our anxieties. So, if fear of the unknown protects us from danger, why is it that when you Google “how to deal with ambiguity” there is so much information on how to eliminate and reduce it? The answer is that to achieve a goal or acquire a new or better outcome, we often need to do something differently. Doing something differently -- adapting -- is often about survival.
Preparing for, reducing, and managing ambiguity is the responsibility of both leadership and individuals. After the initial shock and awe of a sudden change, we need to take certain steps to help us adapt. It’s also useful to remember that even desired changes can be stressful, have their downsides, and need continuous reassessment.
In the past year and a half, we have watched and learned about how we respond to and deal with uncertainty and transition and can carry those lessons with us. Regardless of what we do to cope with upheaval, ambiguity ,and change or what advice we find most useful, the first thing to acknowledge is that our mind and bodies’ initial reaction is normal but can and should be managed. Fear of change and change itself are both about survival.
ASR Staff Engagement October 21st Survey
This week’s ASR Staff Engagement Survey 10/21/2021 assesses recognition at work. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences!
According to last week’s survey, most feel that they can perform well under pressure (55%) or that they sometimes can perform well under pressure (40%). When asked about who you rely on when you need help at work, most report relying on their peers (90% of responses), followed by a tie between supervisor(s) and procedure documentation.
Finally, when asked about recent personal or professional challenges that you overcame, getting consistently better sleep, learning something new, and making time to volunteer were mentioned amongst others. Going to pumpkin patches, taking walks with cocoa, bourbon tasting, and watching the leaves change color were all mentioned as favorite fall activities. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated. The results from the last survey are available below.
October 7, 2021 survey results
Do you consider yourself to be “good” under pressure?Check out this short Ted-Ed video, “How to stay calm under pressure,” to learn about why we can choke under pressure and how to avoid it.
Who or what do you typically rely on when you need help at work (check all that apply)?
According to last week’s survey, most feel that they can perform well under pressure (55%) or that they sometimes can perform well under pressure (40%). When asked about who you rely on when you need help at work, most report relying on their peers (90% of responses), followed by a tie between supervisor(s) and procedure documentation.
Finally, when asked about recent personal or professional challenges that you overcame, getting consistently better sleep, learning something new, and making time to volunteer were mentioned amongst others. Going to pumpkin patches, taking walks with cocoa, bourbon tasting, and watching the leaves change color were all mentioned as favorite fall activities. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated. The results from the last survey are available below.
October 7, 2021 survey results
Do you consider yourself to be “good” under pressure?
- Yes 55%
- Sometimes 40%
- No 5%
- Ending an unhealthy friendship
- Learning something new
- Getting better at consistently better sleep
Who or what do you typically rely on when you need help at work (check all that apply)?
- Supervisors (65% of responses)
- My peers (90% of responses)
- Procedure documentation (65% of responses)
- The internet (50% of responses)
- Hiking with the dog, football, and bonfires
- Eating soup
- Theatre
- Getting out to look at the Fall colors
- Biking around the lakes while the leaves turn to their autumnal colors
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Employee Engagement (E2) survey
On October 11, you will receive an invitation to complete the Employee Engagement survey. The survey is an opportunity for everyone to offer feedback about working both at the University of Minnesota and within ASR. All responses are confidential. More information about the E2 survey is available on the Leadership and Talent Development team's E2 website.
When you take the survey, some of the questions will refer to terms such as your “department” or “college leadership.” Since ASR is not structured like a college, please use the following definitions when filling out the survey:
When you take the survey, some of the questions will refer to terms such as your “department” or “college leadership.” Since ASR is not structured like a college, please use the following definitions when filling out the survey:
- Campus = Twin Cities
- College leadership = ASR directors
- Department = Your ASR department (OCM, OTR, C&C, OSF, ASR IT, ASR Central)
- Manager = Your direct supervisor (person who does your performance review
Update from Stacey
At the beginning of this week, I attended Zoom meetings of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Registrars, along with several ASR colleagues. It is always good to connect with our peer institutions to learn more about how they are handling challenging issues and to commiserate a bit too. I wasn’t able to attend the full conference, but I had a few takeaways from the conversations:
On a mostly unrelated note, you will receive a link to take the Employee Engagement (E2) survey on Monday. I hope all of you take the survey to provide critical feedback to ASR about employee engagement and how we can continue to improve. Since the October 2019 survey, we have been through a lot. I’m very interested to see how we think the pandemic and our very different working environments affect our results and how we can work to support each other. For more information on terms that are part of the survey, see the article below.
- We all have increasingly tight budgets and are thinking about how to be more efficient.
- ASR is lucky to have a structure that facilitates conversations across offices of the registrar, student finance, financial aid, etc. because many institutions struggle with this.
- The University of Minnesota and ASR have more flexible work options than many institutions.
- Balancing our regular work with strategic projects and leadership initiatives will be crucial to our organizational health.
On a mostly unrelated note, you will receive a link to take the Employee Engagement (E2) survey on Monday. I hope all of you take the survey to provide critical feedback to ASR about employee engagement and how we can continue to improve. Since the October 2019 survey, we have been through a lot. I’m very interested to see how we think the pandemic and our very different working environments affect our results and how we can work to support each other. For more information on terms that are part of the survey, see the article below.
2021 Community Fund Drive
Each year the University holds a Community Fund Drive to support important efforts that matter to us. This year’s Community Fund Drive will run from October 1 to October 31. There are many ways to give, including donating to charities, nonprofits, and on-campus fundraising events, see the 2021 Community Fund Drive page for more information. If you would like to donate to the Student Success Fund, more information about the fund and how to donate are available on the ASR website.
Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Responding to seasonal transition
Fall is in full swing! While there is much to look forward to in the spooky season of pumpkin spice, colorful trees, and plenty of autumnal fun in the Twin Cities, it may also bring mixed feelings of sadness as the days get shorter and the weather turns cold. Particularly after a summer of re-evaluating hopes and expectations in the midst of constant change, feelings of loss may coincide with the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The transition to fall may be a reminder, not only of the changing seasons, but also the changes in each of us as we navigate uncertainties and reflect on where we are and where we hope to be. As Parker Palmer muses in his essay “The Paradox of Fall,”
Fall is in full swing! While there is much to look forward to in the spooky season of pumpkin spice, colorful trees, and plenty of autumnal fun in the Twin Cities, it may also bring mixed feelings of sadness as the days get shorter and the weather turns cold. Particularly after a summer of re-evaluating hopes and expectations in the midst of constant change, feelings of loss may coincide with the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The transition to fall may be a reminder, not only of the changing seasons, but also the changes in each of us as we navigate uncertainties and reflect on where we are and where we hope to be. As Parker Palmer muses in his essay “The Paradox of Fall,”
“In the autumnal events of my own experience, I am easily fixated on surface appearances-- on the decline of meaning, the decay of relationships, the death of a work. And yet, if I look more deeply, I may see the myriad possibilities being planted to bear fruit in some season yet to come.”Whether fall feels (figuratively and literally!) like a breath of fresh air, or is bringing on feelings of melancholy and contemplation, it is important to recognize and attend to these responses. Below are additional resources from the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing and OHR on taking care of yourself during this transition and reflecting on your own seasons of life:
ASR Staff Engagement October 7th Survey
This week’s ASR Staff Engagement Survey 10/07/2021 explores resilience. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences!
Last week’s survey examined the spaces that we work in. Most feel that they currently have an adequate workspace either at home or on-campus (76.2%), while 23.8% reported that they either have a somewhat adequate workspace or that they didn’t have one. A whopping 87.8% of respondents typically use more than one monitor. When asked about fun things on your workspaces, lots of folks mentioned photos of family and pets as well as lots of mentions of art, books, and mementos from trips.
Finally, the undisputed winner of Best Cheese is…Pepper Jack! This was followed by Feta cheese in second, and Bleu cheese, Mozzarella, and Colby Jack all tied for third.Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated. The results from the last survey are available below.
September 23, 2021 survey results
Do you feel that you have adequate workspace at home or on-campus?
Do you typically use more than one monitor?
Last week’s survey examined the spaces that we work in. Most feel that they currently have an adequate workspace either at home or on-campus (76.2%), while 23.8% reported that they either have a somewhat adequate workspace or that they didn’t have one. A whopping 87.8% of respondents typically use more than one monitor. When asked about fun things on your workspaces, lots of folks mentioned photos of family and pets as well as lots of mentions of art, books, and mementos from trips.
Finally, the undisputed winner of Best Cheese is…Pepper Jack! This was followed by Feta cheese in second, and Bleu cheese, Mozzarella, and Colby Jack all tied for third.Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated. The results from the last survey are available below.
September 23, 2021 survey results
Do you feel that you have adequate workspace at home or on-campus?
- Yes 76.2%
- Somewhat 19%
- No 4.8%
Do you typically use more than one monitor?
- Yes 87.8%
- No 12.2%
- Collection of postcards
- Pet pictures
- Just a ton of post-it notes
- My gold Poliwhirl pokemon card!
- UMN gear and photos
- Slinky
- Photos of my family and dog
- Pepper Jack 12.5%
- Feta 10%
- Blue Cheese 7.5%
- Colby Jack 7.5%
- Mozzarella 7.5%
- Parmesan 5%
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